Journal box lid



H. J. STEWART JOURNAL Box L'ID Dec.4 16, 1952 Filed June 25, 1948.4

INVENTOR. HOWARD J STEWART Dec. 16, 191524v H J- STEWART l 2,621,984

l JOURNAL BOX LID Filed June 25, 1948 2 SHEETS-Sl'lEET 2 27 v 26 INVENTOR. u -F E F 7 HOWARD J. STEWART. By

, l ,ZuqMJ/J Patented Dec. 16, 1952 JOURNAL BOX LID Howard J. Stewart, Apollo, Pa., assignor to Union Spring and Manufacturing Co., New Kensington, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 25, 1948, Serial No. 35,212

6 Claims.

This invention relates to journal box lids and, more particularly, to an improved arrangement of operating mechanism for yieldingly maintaining a lid in a position closing the opening in a journal box.

Journal boxes for railroad car axles, constructed in accordance with specifications provided by the Association of American Railroads, are provided With substantially square openings having pivot lugs at the upper edges thereof to which lids for closing the openings may be pivoted. It is necessary that the closure lid be yieldingly maintained in a closed position, in order that access may be had to the journal box for inspection and the replenishment of lubricant. The mechanism for this purpose has heretofore usually comprised either a lever and a coil spring, or a spring lever, together with additional operating parts having an arrangement which was of necessity complicated and apt to get out of order. In addition, a further requirement of such structures is that the lid be universally mounted for limited movement relative to the journal box so that it may automatically adjust its position to compensate for irregularities in the material dening the opening in the journal box.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a journal box lid with an improved arrangement of operating parts for moving the lid to a closed position, and in which provision is made in a novel manner for universal movement of the lid on the journal box. To this end, there is provided an operating member in the nature of a housing which is pivoted to the journal box for movement independently of the closure lid. The resilient bias for yieldingly maintaining the lid in its closed position is applied through the operating member which has engagement with the lid at a single point centrally located and of substantially small area about which the lid may have universal movement to adjust its position on the journal box. The bias is applied to the operating member by means of a spring having a novel configuration and application. The biasing spring has bearing engagement with the operating member and a pivot lug on the journal box in such manner that it is the only member required to control the operation of the lid, thereby eliminating the plurality of operating parts heretofore considered essential.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the following description.

In the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a journal box lid and operating mechanism therefor constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the lid taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the operating member or housing taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the closure lid and operating mechanism mounted on a journal box, a part of the operating mechanism being broken away and the journal box being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the housing or operating member shown in Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the spring employed to bias the lid to its closed position; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View of the spring shown in Fig. 6.

The broken lines in Fig. 1 indicate a flange 2 on a journal box which defines a substantially square opening 3 providing access to the interior of a journal box for inspection and the replenishment of lubrication. A lid 4 is provided for closing the opening 3. The lid `4 is a sheet metal stamping or ferrous casting which is provided with a iiat surface 5 on its under side for sealing engagement with the journal box flange 2. The upper edge of the stamping from which the lid 4 is formed is provided with a pair of projecting strips or tongues 6 which are doubled back to provide an opening 'l for the reception of a pivot pin 8. The opening '1, as best shown in Fig. 4, is considerably larger than the diameter of the pivot pin 8 so that the lid 4 which is pivotal about the pin 8 may adjust its position on the journal box in a manner to be described. The pin 8 is supported by a pivot lug 9 of conventional construction, as specified by the Association of American Railroads, and constituting part of the journal box. The tongues 6 provide a hinge for the lid 4 on the pin 8. This hinge is reinforced and secured rigidly with respect to the lid 4 by a rod I0 having welded connections with the hinge 6 and lid 4 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

To control the operation of the lid 4, there is provided an operating member indicated as a whole by the numeral II. The operating member II is a pressed steel or cast metal housing comprising spaced side walls I2 and I3 connected together in spaced relation by a top or cover member I 4. The upper portions of the side walls I2 and I3 are provided with ears I5 respectively having openings I 6 for the reception of the pivot pin 8 and by which the member I I is mounted pivotally on the pin 8. From the foregoing it will be noted that both the lid 4 and the operating member I I are pivotal on the pin 8 independently of each other. The lower end wall I'I of the housing member Il terminates in a flange or lip I8. The lip I8 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape and is formed about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the opening I6 for a purpose to be described.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the central portion I9 of the lid is upset to provide a point 20. The operating member II is positioned on the lid 4 so that the under surface 2l of the lip I8 has contact with the point 20. By reason of the formation of the lid portion I9 to provide the point 20, the lid 4 will have limited movement about a vertical axis extending through the point 2D so that it may adjust its position to compensate for irregularities in the surface of the flange 2. The operating member II is secured to the lid 4 by means of a strap 22, which has its ends connected by rivets 23 to the lid Instead of using rivets 23, the ends of the strap 22 may be secured to the lid 4 by welding. The center portion 24 of the strap 22 has a substantially semicylindrical shape and is received in nesting engagement with the inner surface of the lip I8, as best shown in Fig. 4. From Fig. 4, it will also be noted that the central portion IS of the lid carrying the upset part or point 2S is substantially semi-cylindrical to accommodate itself for the contour of the lip I8. By reason of the semicylindrical contour of the lip I8 and central portion of the strap 24, the lid 4 may rock about a horizontal axis in the plane of the lid 4 and passing through the point 20. It will thus be seen that the lid 4 may rock about horizontal and vertical axes which intersect centrally of the lid 4. In this manner limited universal movement of the lid 4 is had relative to the operating member I I, and the lid 4 may readily adjust its position to compensate for irregularities in the surface of the flange 2 and thereby having sealing engagement with such flange.

For the purpose of yieldingly maintaining the lid 4 in a closed position on the flange 2 there is provided a spring 25. As best shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the spring 25 comprises two coil portions 23 and 21 formed about a common axis and respectively having free ends 2S and 23 at the adjacent ends of the coils. The remote ends 28a and 29a of the coils 26 and 2? are connected together to provide a bight 3u having a straight portion of wire between the bight on which is mounted a roller 3I. The spring 25 is formed from spring rod steel stock initially in the shape of a hairpin in which the parts 28a and 29a form the arms and are connected by the bight 39. The ends of the arms 28a and 25a are then coiled to provide the coils 26 and 2'1 and the free ends 28 and 28 which project upwardly toward the bight 30. The coils 26 and 2'I are mounted on a cylindrical tube 32 with their free ends 28 and 29 engaged with the under surface of the cover member I4, as at 33. As best shown in Fig. 3, the side walls I2 and I3 are upset to provide inwardly extending parts 34 which project into the ends of the tube 32 and thus function to securely fasten the tube in position with respect to the operating member II.

When there is no tension on the spring 25 the bight 39 and ends 28 and 29 will occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. '7. After the spring is mounted on the tube 32 secured to the operating member I I as described above, the roller 3l is moved inwardly to impart tension to the spring 25, and is moved into the relative position shown in Fig. 4. A locking pin 35 is then inserted through openings 36 formed in the walls I2 and I3 for preventing movement of the spring 25 so as to relieve itself of tension. When the spring 2'5 is secured with respect to the operating member I I by the rod 35, the operating member I I is then secured to the lid 4 by the fastening strap 24 as described above. The lid and operating member may then be mounted as a unit on the journal box by inserting the pivot pin 8 through the aligned openings provided by the hinges 6, the openings I8 in the side walls of the housing member II, and the conventional pivot pin opening in the pivot lug 9 provided on the journal box. When the lid is thus mounted in position the parts will occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 4. In this position it will be noted that the outer surface of the roller 3| will be in engagement with the surface 33 on the pivot lug 9. To release the pin 35, it is merely necessary to rotate the lid 4 in a clockwise direction and thereby move the roller 3I upwardly on the surface 35. rfhis action will impart a further tension to the spring 25 and disengage the arms 28a and 29a from the locking pin 35 which may then be readily withdrawn through the openings 35. After the locking pin 35 has been withdrawn the full tension of the spring 25 will be effective for yieldingly maintaining the lid 4 in closed position on the flanges 2 of the journal box. Attention is particularly invited to the fact that the spring 25 is the only element between the operating member II and the journal box. No other relatively movable parts are required in order to transmit the bias of the spring 25 to the lid 4. rfhe bight 30 of the spring has a bearing engagement with the pivot lug 9 through the roller 3|. The free ends 28 and 29 of the spring 25 have a bearing engagement with the operating member I I at 33. The reactive force between these points of bearing engagement is transmitted directly to the operating member II and is applied thereby to the lid 4 at the central point 28. The lid 4 is thus yieldingly maintained in engagement with the ange 2 on the journal box.

When it is desired to move the lid i to an open position, a hook may be inserted through the opening 4E! at the bottom edge of the lid 6 for the purpose of pulling the lid outwardly and upwardly. rIhis will cause the lid 4 to rotate about the pivot pin 8 to an open position. As the lid 4 is moved to an open position the roller SI will ride upwardly on the surface 39 on the pivot lug 9. and the spring 25 will be compressed a slight additional amount. The pivot lug il is provided with a surface 4I angularly inclined with respect to the surface 39, and connected therewith by the rounded surface 42. If the roller SI is moved over the rounded surface 42 into engagement with the surface 4I, the cover 4 will be held in an open position until such time as the lid 4 is operated to move the roller 3i back into engagement with the surface 39.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the spring 25 and its arrangement with respect to the operating member I I and the pivot lug 9 provides a simplified form of mechanism for yieldingly maintaining the journal box lid in a closed position. By the use of the spring 25, the provision of additional elements such as levers and consequent lever fulcrums heretofore required are no longer necessary. There are thus no parts which are apt to become disengaged and thus get out of order. Attention is also invited to the fact that the manner in which the closing force is applied through the abutting surfaces on the lid part I9 and the lip i8 provides a desirable arrangement by which universal movement of the lid 4 is permitted relative to the operating member Il. This universal movement takes place about the single point of contact at 20. The single point of contact lat eliminates the complicated constructions heretofore required to provide for such universal movement.

While I have illustrated and described certain specic embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that this is by Way of illustration only and that various changes and modifications may be made Within the contemplation of my invention and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a lid structure for a journal box having a pivot lug, a lid, a hood having a cover plate spaced from said lid, a pivot structure at its upper end for connection to the journal box pivot lug, a lip at its lower end for abutting engagement with the lid at a point centrally of the lid, and a mounting member in the space between said cover plate and the lid and extending transversely thereof at a position intermediate said lip and said pivot structure, and a hairpin spring having a pair of arms and a bight connecting said arms for bearing engagement against the journal box pivot lug, each of said arms having a por-tion coiled about and in bearing engagement with said mounting member and a terminal end doubled back in a direction toward said bight and in bearing eng-agement with the under surface of said cover plate at a point between said mounting member and pivot structure.

2. A lid structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said spring portions are wound in a direction toward each other and extending inwardly from their respective arms.

3. A lid structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said mounting member comprises a tube and said cover plate has spaced depending side walls with parts thereof pressed inwardly into the ends of the tube to mount it in position.

4. A lid structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said lip has a substantially semi-circular shape, said lid has a substantially semi-circular recess in Which said lip is receivable, and a strap of substantially semi-circular shape for holding said lip in said recess while allowing the lid to rotate relative to the hood about .the axis of said semi-circular lip.

5. A lid structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the axis of said lip extends transversely of said hood together with means on said strap, lip, and lid recess providing for limited rotational movement of the lid relative to the hood about a second axis normal to said lip axis.

6. In a lid structure for a journal box having a pivot lug, a lid having a horizontally extending substantially semi-circular recess, a hood having a cover plate spaced from said lid with a pivot structure at its upper end for connection to the journal box pivot lug, .a substantially semi-circular lip at its lower end positioned in said recess in abutting engagement with the lid, and a mounting member parallel to said recess in the space between said cover plate and lid .and positioned intermediate said lip and pivot lug, a hairpin spring having va pair of arms and a bight connecting said arms for bearing engagement against the journal box pivot lug, each of said arms having a portion coiled about and in bearing engagement with said mounting member and a terminal end doubled back in a direction toward said bight and in bearing engagement with the under surface of said cover plate at a point between said mounting member and pivot structure, and a substantially semi-circular strap mounted concentrically with respect to said lip for holding said lip in said recess while allowing the lid to rota-te relative to the hood about the axis of said semi-circular lip.

HOWARD J. STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

